NASHVILLE, Tenn. – This one had a little  bit of everything for the Lipscomb Lady Bisons – a pair of home runs, hits from six different batters, a flawless performance in the field and another solid pitching performance from Megan Gray.

All those things combined for the Lady Bisons to walk away with a 4-2 win over SIU-Edwardsville in their first game of the Purple and Gold Challenge at Draper Diamond at Smith Stadium.

“We had not hit any home runs until this game, but I knew they would come,” Lipscomb coach Kristin Ryman said. “I don’t think this team is impressed at all with that. We will have more. I am not worried about it.

“They are just trying to focus on quality at bats which is what we preach. It was fun in the first home game to see a couple of our players break through. We are  excited about this one. It was a good win for us.”

It was the first home game for the Lady Bisons this season. Their record is 8-6. SIU-Edwardsville falls to 7-2.

Lipscomb wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as Peyton Ward slammed a solo home run to left center with one out. It was the first  home run for the Lady Bisons this season.

Olivia Ward singled to the shortstop and eventually scored on a throwing error in the second inning.

Hannah DeVault added a home run of her own, lifting the ball over the center field fence with one out in the third.

Peyton just crushed hers,” Ryman said. “Hannah had just enough on hers.

“Those were key hits for us. SIU-Edwardsville is a good  team. Those big hits early made the difference for us.”

In the fifth Lipscomb added an insurance run when Presley Leebrick singled up the middle with bases loaded to score Caitlin Turner who was hit by a pitch to open the inning.

Gray extended her undefeated streak to six. She lost her bid for a shutout with two outs in the seventh when Kloe Hilbrenner hit a two-RBI shot to right field.

“Megan is mad about that one,” Ryman said.

All six of Gray’s wins have been complete game efforts. She allowed two hits, struck out eight and did not walk a batter.

“Megan threw such a great game,” Ryman said. “She helped  allow our offense to confidently go about what were doing because we knew she was going to hold them down and give us a shot.

“They have good lineup. Megan was great once again.”

Emily Ingles, 4-1, started for SIU-Edwardsville. She suffered her first loss of the season. In 2.1 innings she scattered five hits, gave up three runs (two earned), struck out four and did not walk a batter.

Kennedy Lehn pitched the final 3.2 innings. She allowed three hits, one unearned run and one walk. She struck out one batter.

“It  was a clean game for us,”  Ryman said. “It was a hard-nosed game back-and-forth. Both teams were trying to play hard.

“We get them again Saturday. They are a good team. They fight and they obviously don’t quit.”

AROUND THE BASES

• Olivia Ward and Leebrick each had two hits. It was the first multiple-hit game of the season for Olivia Ward and the third for Leebrick.
• Peyton Ward stole her ninth base of the season out of nine attempts to lead the team.
• A total of five batters were hit by pitches in the game – two for SIU-Edwardsville and three for Lipscomb.
• Peyton Ward has hits in her last four games and leads the team.
• DeVault has a three-game hitting streak along with Caitlin Turner.

UP NEXT

The Purple and Gold Challenge continues Saturday. The Lady Bisons will face UMBC at 12:30 followed by  a rematch with SIU-Edwardsville at 3.

The Lady Bisons close out the weekend Sunday at 2:30 against Indiana State.